The decision was unanimous from Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson, Deputy Supervisor Bob Biesemeyer and councilors Teresa Cheetham-Palen and David Deyo. Daly was sworn in on Friday.

Daly’s letter of interest to succeed Whitney after she resigned was not his first attempt to represent town of Keene residents. In 2021, he lost a close election for town justice to Barbara Dwyer.

The town board had to select Whitney’s replacement on the board because the deadline for people to petition for election this November had passed.

During the meeting, the board went into executive session and came out less than an hour later, saying they had named Daly as the new member of the town council until the end of next year. The seat will be eligible for election next November.

In all, eight residents submitted letters of interest to serve as Whitney’s replacement on the board: Daly, William Ferebee, Ryan Hall, Ann Hough, Michael Lashway, Tammy Loewy, Thomas McCabe (who later withdrew his request) and Ann Whitney.

Daly and his wife, Carrie, moved to the area on a part-time basis in 2018 and established full-time residency in late 2020.

“I wanted to serve the community,” Daly said on Monday.

In 2021, while running for town justice, Daly canvassed the town of Keene, going door to door to speak with townspeople. On the basis of this introduction to the town, he said, he was invited to join the board of Little Peaks Preschool, a position he accepted and now holds. He has also been active in strategic planning for the town of Keene, particularly in the area of hiker parking, and he has a strong interest in housing.

Joining the town council midterm as a relative newcomer to the area “may be difficult to get my arms around,” he said, then added, laughing, “but I’m a quick study.”